January is the time to get back into the routine of it all — the time to deal with frigid, and sometimes dangerous, weather for two-plus months. This doesn’t sound very appealing…unless you are willing to do it differently in 2017.
They say you can teach an old dog new tricks; so I assume we humans can learn a few new things as we age, like new attitudes, thoughts and even some new “tricks”. Here are five suggestions for changing up YOUR new year:
1. Commit
Make a commitment to find 1–3 friends who want to make 2017 a superior year. Ask them to join you in committing to make big shifts in their lives, and living more positively this year. Start a Mastermind group with them to listen to each other’s ideas and to support each other’s growth.
2. Get Clear
Get clear about what you want to be, have, and do in 2017. Write it down, say it out loud. Be specific, and then share your thoughts with your friends. And let them affirm that they see these things, situations, and people coming into your life.
3. Believe
As Wayne W. Dyer said, “If you knew who walked beside you at all times on this path that you have chosen, you could never experience fear or doubt again.”
4. Happiness trumps obligations
Ask yourself if you are doing something because you have to, or, you want to. Really figure that out. If your purpose is to pay off your bills, then going to work every day is a blessing, an answer to your desire. It is not the beast. Decide to be grateful for the work. Shift how you look at things in your life.
5. Give more than receive
Do acts of kindness, call friends to ask how they are and truly listen, pay it forward when good things come to you, and practice being nice even when that may not be your first reaction. Peace and inner joy will be your rewards.
It’s now or never…SO, here’s to a great 2017!
